Tourism, cultural and sports activities will kick off National Tourism Year 2010 in Ha Noi beginning this month.

"The National Tourism Year is the country’s important event to promote national tourism sector to international countries," Pham Quang Long, director of the Ha Noi Culture, Tourism and Sports Department, said. The National Tourism Year, themed Thang Long-Ha Noi, Hoi Tu Ngan Nam (A Thousand-Year Meeting) will open on October 10 with a special ceremony celebrating the city’s 999th anniversary.

Ha Noi plans to introduce more eco-tours and homestay tours as well as develop handicraft village products.

For next year’s celebration, it expects to complete the Bat Trang Tourism Port and the Hai Ba Trung Temple upgrade next year. New tourism programmes will be created, including Nguoi Ha Noi Don Ban Tham Nha (Hanoians Welcome Guests) and Green Tourism Year.

The Thang Long-Ha Noi International Tourism Festival 2010, International Water Puppet Festival and ao dai (Vietnamese traditional costumes), kite and flower festivals will also be held during National Tourism Year.